Minooka dog park on Dad's Day

Pippin's first time off-leashing

Father's Day was eventful this year: Taking Dad to breakfast, making turtle ice cream pie, helping Mom with her now-signature spinach, mushroom, & feta turkey burgers (recipe courtesy of Penzy's Spices) — and letting Pippin go off-leashing at the Minooka's dog park. 

Minooka Park is about 2 minutes from my parents' house, so why we've never ventured there before is just silly really. But Father's Day was the first day of summer (and actually felt like it!), so the Lawler family hopped in the minivan to test the waters at the dog park. We've never let Pippin outside without a leash before, except at my aunt's fenced-in backyard pool — which isn't really the same thing. 

Turns out, Pippin is a natural off-leasher — running free, but coming when called and making lots of little friends. He even brought his new pals over to meet us: a trio of toy poodle mixes. The black and white one is Murph — an old man who could only waddle, never run, with his feather duster tail in tow. When his comrades later took off sprinting with Pippin, Murph stayed put under our park bench. 

We had to laugh at how Lawler-ish Pippin proved to be, even when left to his own devices. Other dogs went wild with running and sniffing to no end; Pippin was truly the only one who soon decided "enough of this" and laid down in the shade. We Lawlers enjoy a good rest. 

Minooka Park has both a small dog area and a large dog area, each fenced in. The park itself also has a sizable pond in need of exploring (and picnicking), sand volleyball courts, covered pavilions for parties, and I'm sure plenty of other goodies. To come to the park on a whim is $4/car; a season pass is just $30 — worth it if you live in the Waukesha area and have a dog. Or just an affinity for parks.